Overview
Property owners and occupiers have a legal duty to maintain their premises in a reasonably safe condition and to warn visitors of known hazards. When they fail to meet this obligation and someone is injured as a result, the injured person may have a premises liability claim.
Premises liability law covers a wide range of accidents and injuries that occur on someone else's property — from slip and fall accidents in a grocery store to inadequate security at an apartment complex. If you were injured on someone else's property due to a dangerous condition or negligent management, Triten Law can help you understand your rights and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Common Types of Premises Liability Cases
Triten Law handles premises liability cases arising from a variety of circumstances, including:
- Slip and fall accidents — Wet floors, icy sidewalks, uneven surfaces, and poorly lit areas that cause dangerous falls
- Trip and fall accidents — Defective stairs, broken pavement, loose carpeting, and other hazards that cause tripping
- Negligent security — Inadequate lighting, lack of security personnel, broken locks, or failure to address known criminal activity that results in assault, robbery, or other harm
- Swimming pool accidents — Drowning and near-drowning incidents due to lack of proper fencing, supervision, or safety equipment
- Dog bites and animal attacks — When a property owner's animal causes injury to a visitor or passerby
- Elevator and escalator accidents — Mechanical failures and improper maintenance causing injuries
- Construction site hazards — Falling objects, exposed wiring, and other dangerous conditions affecting non-workers
- Retail and commercial property accidents — Including falling merchandise and display failures
Duty of Care to Visitors
The duty of care owed by a property owner depends in part on the legal status of the visitor. In general:
- Invitees — Those invited onto property for business purposes (customers, clients, delivery personnel) are owed the highest duty of care. Property owners must regularly inspect for hazards and promptly address them.
- Licensees — Social guests and others who enter with permission are owed a duty to warn of known dangers that they are unlikely to discover on their own.
- Trespassers — Property owners generally owe a limited duty to trespassers, though special rules apply to children under the "attractive nuisance" doctrine.
Establishing the applicable duty of care and proving that it was breached are central elements of any premises liability claim. Our attorneys have the experience to build a strong case on your behalf.
What You Must Prove
To succeed in a premises liability claim, you generally must establish that:
- The property owner owed you a duty of care
- A dangerous condition existed on the property
- The property owner knew or should have known about the condition
- The property owner failed to correct the condition or warn you of the hazard
- The dangerous condition directly caused your injury
- You suffered actual damages as a result
Compensation Available
Victims of premises liability accidents may be entitled to recover:
- Medical expenses — past and future
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Wrongful death damages for the families of those killed
Contact Triten Law
If you were injured on someone else's property, do not assume the accident was your fault. Property owners and their insurance companies will work quickly to minimize your claim. Triten Law will work just as quickly to protect your rights. Contact us today for a free, confidential case evaluation. No fees unless we win.